On aluminum bearings and its alloys, for use in hermetic compressors

Abstract

A process for preventing the eventual wear of a bearing for a compressor, including: providing a bearing having a sliding surface and made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy; treating the bearing sliding surface with an application of zinc phosphate; and forming a layer of phosphate on the bearing sliding surface, whereby a solid lubricant is provided on the bearing sliding surface. Also, a bearing for a compressor, the bearing including a material selected from a group consisting of aluminum and an aluminum alloy, the bearing having a sliding surface provided with a layer of zinc phosphate thereon, the zinc phosphate layer providing a solid lubricant on the sliding surface, whereby the start of eventual wear of the bearing is prevented.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A process for preventing the eventual wear of a bearing for a compressor, comprising: 
 providing a bearing having a sliding surface and made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy;    treating the bearing sliding surface with an application of zinc phosphate; and    forming a layer of phosphate on the bearing sliding surface, whereby a solid lubricant is provided on the bearing sliding surface.    
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said treating step comprises phosphatizing the bearing sliding surface.  
     
     
         3 . A bearing for a compressor, said bearing comprising a material selected from a group consisting of aluminum and an aluminum alloy, said bearing having a sliding surface provided with a layer of zinc phosphate thereon, said zinc phosphate layer providing a solid lubricant on said sliding surface, whereby the start of eventual wear of said bearing is prevented.  
     
     
         4 . The bearing of  claim 3 , wherein said sliding surface has been phosphatized.  
     
     
         5 . An improvement on bearings of aluminum and their alloys, for use in hermetic compressors, comprising the application of zinc phosphate as a surface treatment on a bearing selected from a group consisting of aluminum and its alloys, for use in hermetic refrigeration compressors, to produce a surface layer of phosphate that acts as a solid lubricant on the sliding metallic surfaces of the bearings, thus preventing an eventual wear to initiate.